Ht/Wt: 7' 0" / 220 lbs
Position: PF/C
Team: Baylor
Class: Sophomore

2014 Draft Profile - Isaiah Austin

Strengths:
The physical attributes that Austin possesses are some that very few in the NBA possess, let alone college prospects. Standing a legit 7-foot-1 with a 7’3 wingspan, and possessing impressive mobility and agility to boot, Austin’s measurable have scouts drooling.

He has already added a decent amount of weight to his skinny frame, and while he will still need to add upper-body strength, the fact that he has shown the ability to get stronger and add muscle gives hope to NBA teams that he will be able to develop when on an NBA training regimen.

Offensively he has an extremely high release point on his hook shot and can go over either shoulder. He is also a decent midrange jump shooter and can even put the ball on the floor at times.

Defensively he shines due to his length and timing. He was one of the nation’s best shot blockers last season and turned himself into one of the best weakside help defenders in the country. If there is a place where he could contribute immediately, it is definitely on the defensive side of the ball.

Weaknesses:
While he developed some physically in between his two seasons at Baylor, he still does not possess the strength to deal with big men on a regular basis and it shows itself in a number of ways.

Offensively, Austin struggles to establish good position down low, and he struggles to fight up through contact. This often leads to him forcing up awkward, difficult shots instead of simple, more reliable hooks and layups.

Defensively, he continues to struggle with on-ball defense as he can still be overpowered. His rebounding numbers also leave a lot to be desired, due both to his strength issue, and his failure to block out regularly. While he could get away with that in high school, and, at times, in college, he will not get away with that in the NBA.

Another concern is the fact that Austin is legally blind in one eye. Overcoming that will be a battle in itself, but if Austin is able to add a little more strength, he could be a contributor for the right team, if they are a little patient.

PPG: 11.3 RPG: 5.6 APG: 1.4 SPG: 0.4 BPG: 3.2 FG%: 44.3 FT%: 68.3 3PT%: 28.1

Player profile submitted by: Corey Hansford – May 8th

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Isaiah Austin Videos

Isaiah Austin 7'0 #1 center 2012 High School Basketball player mixtape (Baylor commit)


Isaiah Austin 2012 Adidas Nations Highlights - 7 Footer - Baylor Commit


Isaiah Austin & Ricardo Gathers; Baylor's Next Frontcourt Duo - HardwoodElite.com





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